Microsoft Corp.’s chief executive officer Steve Ballmer said at a symposium that the forthcoming operating system (OS) Windows 7 would be a lot better compared to Windows Vista. Nevertheless, the new OS will not be just a fixed version of much criticized Vista, but a major release. Unfortunately, Mr. Ballmer provided no details or unveiled any new features.

“[Windows 7], it’s Windows Vista, a lot better,” said Mr. Ballmer at Gartner’s annual Symposium ITxpo, reports ComputerWorld web-site.

The chief executive officer indicated that Windows 7 will have improved graphics user interface, performance improvements as well as will lack compatibility issues with Windows Vista, something that the company did say in the past claiming that driver model of Windows 7 will be the same as in Windows Vista.

“Windows Vista is good. Windows 7 is Windows Vista with cleanup in user interface [and] improvements in performance. Look, I’m not encouraging anybody to wait, I’d go ahead and deploy it right away. We didn’t have to go in an incompatible direction to make big strides forward,” Mr. Ballmer said.

The market of personal computers is changing at a very rapid pace and it would be strange to expect just a few changes from Windows 7. Microsoft has already disclosed support for touch-screens with its next-gen OS and more improvements can be expected, including broader amount of services and “gadgets” that are built into the operating system.

“It’s a real release. Because it’s a lot more work than a minor release. It turns out you can [do] more than just a minor release in what is essentially a two-and-a-half-year period of time. There’s no reason to do just ‘a minor release’ in two and a half years,” said Mr. Ballmer, answering the question whether the new OS will be just a Windows Vista with several improvements.

Already now Microsoft has to challenge not only Linux, but also has to consider skyrocketing popularity of Apple Mac OS along with Macintosh computers. In addition, Microsoft is challenged by companies like Google with browsers and online services that offer alternative to Microsoft’s products. Finally, Microsoft needs to address the emerging markets of ultra low-cost personal computers (ULCPCs). To top it off, a new OS may become a door for Microsoft to enter the market of digital media business (like Apple iTunes) as well as advertising.

Tags: Microsoft, Windows